Two Fridays ago I found myself with a weekend in front of me. A weekend without travel or any plan, and I decided I wasn't taking it lying down. Well, maybe I wasn't that militant. I just didn't want to tool around my house wondering what could have been if I actually left a two block radius of my house while staying in Philadelphia. Does that make sense? This summer I have regularly traveled distances to be elsewhere, but when I'm actually in the city I have an impressive tendency not to go anywhere or do anything. I was over it. I wanted to
go out. So I asked L. about her plans for the evening and expressed my interest in going to Village Whiskey. She was amenable to joining me, so we planned to meet up and have ourselves some fancy pickled food and bourbon drinks. Unfortunately, Village Whiskey had no room for us, so I still don't know what I think of it. Instead we went on down to
Noble, another place I'd been meaning to check out. While more wholesome people can go out without the desire for cocktails, I am simply not at that point in my life. It's debatable whether I ever will be. We sat at their outdoor window area...L. faced out toward the sidewalk while I sat on the sidewalk-side looking into the restaurant. We saw Kevin Nealon walking down the street to the nearby comedy club, but didn't speak to him. I ordered a 'The Check is in the Mail,' which was a combination of vodka, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup, and house-made ginger beer. Refreshing.
For my actual meal I ordered the scallop appetizer: Barnegat Light Sea Scallops with toasted farro risotto, uni, and orange-saffron vinaigrette. They were definitely enjoyable, though they didn't look this yellow in person. They were nice and tender, though I almost wished for just a little more seared-ness on the outside. I have come to terms with the fact that I don't really appreciate the taste of straight-up uni in sushi, but the uni angle of this dish actually worked for me. L. ordered the burger and liked it, though it wasn't rare as she requested (at first she thought it was...but that was just a beet).
We both ordered second cocktails. This time I went with the The French ‘75, a combination of gin, sugar, lemon juice, sparkling wine, lemon peel. It was to my liking, I think more to my liking than the first. It was a good.
L. took this photograph and likes it because of the movement all around me. I like it because I don't look fat. Do not contradict me on this point, thanks.
After dinner we were both up to more of an evening. L. suggested we go to one of her favorite spots on earth. So we went. One of the reasons L. likes this place so much is because of the convivial atmosphere of those who come regularly to play darts. She has actually spent a fair amount of time there, getting better at the sport. I knew I would be awful at the darts, but I like playing games of all sorts and drinking while playing games. I only hope I didn't embarrass L. in my poor playing (we were, with one exception, always a team...and lost every time) nor aggravate her buddies by continuing to play even though it was clear I was no match for their almost-division-1 skills. (I think it went okay, really).
That said (that = I know I was bad) I had a few good throws. This, for instance, was my board...as much as L. wanted it to be hers when she looked at the photographs later.
See? Two bulls-eyes. I am good. I am good. I am good-ish. I am lucky. Whatever.
Then the part of the evening in which we have photographs of ourselves happened.
We put lipstick on together...well, this was actually moisturizing gloss.
L.'s dart buddy J.H. was very patient with my poor playing, and this is the photograph that does not represent that truth at all, but is a very funny photograph.
A lovely evening that completely satiated my need to get out into the world and mix things up a bit. Thanks to L. for being a willing participant and facilitator, even with an apartment move imminent.
For my actual meal I ordered the scallop appetizer: Barnegat Light Sea Scallops with toasted farro risotto, uni, and orange-saffron vinaigrette. They were definitely enjoyable, though they didn't look this yellow in person. They were nice and tender, though I almost wished for just a little more seared-ness on the outside. I have come to terms with the fact that I don't really appreciate the taste of straight-up uni in sushi, but the uni angle of this dish actually worked for me. L. ordered the burger and liked it, though it wasn't rare as she requested (at first she thought it was...but that was just a beet).
We both ordered second cocktails. This time I went with the The French ‘75, a combination of gin, sugar, lemon juice, sparkling wine, lemon peel. It was to my liking, I think more to my liking than the first. It was a good.
L. took this photograph and likes it because of the movement all around me. I like it because I don't look fat. Do not contradict me on this point, thanks.
After dinner we were both up to more of an evening. L. suggested we go to one of her favorite spots on earth. So we went. One of the reasons L. likes this place so much is because of the convivial atmosphere of those who come regularly to play darts. She has actually spent a fair amount of time there, getting better at the sport. I knew I would be awful at the darts, but I like playing games of all sorts and drinking while playing games. I only hope I didn't embarrass L. in my poor playing (we were, with one exception, always a team...and lost every time) nor aggravate her buddies by continuing to play even though it was clear I was no match for their almost-division-1 skills. (I think it went okay, really).
That said (that = I know I was bad) I had a few good throws. This, for instance, was my board...as much as L. wanted it to be hers when she looked at the photographs later.
See? Two bulls-eyes. I am good. I am good. I am good-ish. I am lucky. Whatever.
Then the part of the evening in which we have photographs of ourselves happened.
We put lipstick on together...well, this was actually moisturizing gloss.
L.'s dart buddy J.H. was very patient with my poor playing, and this is the photograph that does not represent that truth at all, but is a very funny photograph.
A lovely evening that completely satiated my need to get out into the world and mix things up a bit. Thanks to L. for being a willing participant and facilitator, even with an apartment move imminent.
1 comment:
LOVE. and yes, oh man, i want a huge print of that 3-dart photo, but my heart kinda breaks that they weren't ones i hit. someday, someday. sigh, is it possible to be nostalgic for something so recent? because i am.
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